Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Book Review: Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

All over America, recently deceased teenagers are getting up and walking around. They have no heartbeats. They don’t breathe. But they do have minds and emotions. They ride the school bus and struggle through math homework. One of them, Tommy Williams, even plays football.

Living, breathing goth girl Phoebe is fascinated with Tommy. It’s that age-old attraction to a guy who lives on the fringes—a guy the girl thinks maybe, if she can just love him enough, will come around and be the person he almost is. You know, Rebel Without a Pulse. The trouble is, living people are pretty freaked out about a live girl dating a dead boy. Not to mention that Adam, Phoebe’s best friend, has secretly been in love with her for years.

Generation Dead manages to be funny and dark at the same time, with none of the cheesy horror and melodrama we usually associate with zombie stories. Instead, it’s a new twist on the issue of accepting differences and learning from people who come from other walks of life—er, death. I felt a lot of great tension between the desire to see Phoebe and Tommy overcome the prejudices against their friendship and my wish for Phoebe and the likable, tough-but-sensitive Adam to end up together.

Each character in Generation Dead has a distinct voice, and Daniel Waters writes refreshingly authentic-sounding boy dialog. Generation Dead, published by Hyperion, is more than just a YA urban fantasy. It’s a novel about social awareness that will appeal to readers with a broad range of genre preferences, and it’s definitely worth checking out.

I found it randomly online and checked it out at the library. I've now had two other people read it. I love this book and anyone with a healthy sense of humor will enjoy it, even if it is a little dark sometimes. -D

About this Blog

Yapping About YA features many talented writers of various ages and stages of their career (or epic journey into publication). We're all young adult fiction writers coming together for a common blog. Stay and enjoy the fun.

Name: Bethany GriffinAge: Too old to be a YA, not too old to write it Writes: Realistic Contemporary, once in awhile I throw in a little speculative stuff...Likes: Books, loud music, dark chocolateDislikes: country musicRepped By: Maya Rock- Writers HouseExtras:handcuffs is available now!

Name: Amanda ThrasherAge: 20Writes: YA fantasy, high school survivalLikes: Molskine notebooks, world music and religions, mocha frappuchinos, the smell of the mountains after a rain, having no scheduleDislikes: Determined closemindednessExtra: My NYR: start no riots in 2008

Name: Sasha ViveloAge: 35Writes: contemporary YA, adult romance, new age fiction, metaphysical nonfictionLikes: forests, ocean mammals, yoga, live acoustic music, running, qigong, writing, reading, and the smell of applesDislikes: not being able to do everything all at onceExtras: Check out my adult romance novel here.

Name: Suzanne YoungAge: 31Writes: YA Romance (Yes. YA can be romantic)Dislikes: Now is that good Karma?Extra: Suzanne's debut YA series THE NAUGHTY LIST will be released from Razorbill/Penguin in Spring 2010.